The Illinois State University Wind Symphony offers Persichetti's works for its 13th recording on Albany Records.

The fact that a composer of Persichetti's stature and prominence wrote so many works for wind band was not a result of a unique devotion, but simply because he was inherently attracted to the medium. The works on this recording, which constitute Persichetti's major works for wind ensemble, represent a wide variety of lengths, forms and difficulty levels and yet certain compositional consistencies can be found throughout. The differences are in technical demands and harmonic density rather than the basic musical language. The Illinois State University Wind Symphony and their conductor Stephen K. Steele offer exceptional performances of this music.

Review:

"My usual reaction when listening to a work orchestrated solely for wind instruments and percussion ensemble, is to find it lacking in color and warmth because stringed instruments are missing. But Vincent Persichetti balances the brass and woodwind instruments so well, and adds texture to the sound by integrating various percussion instruments into the fabric of the work, that you quickly get drawn into the music and don't realize that strings are missing. ...The Illinois State University Wind Symphony members, under the direction of Stephen K. Steele, deliver an incredible performance of all these works." (Classical Music Sentinel)

"There has been no greater American composer of wind band music than Vincent Persichetti. ...His music is instantly recognizable and, for me at least, its sound is as quintessentially 'American' as anything by, say, Aaron Copland." (Scott Morrison)

"Not only was Persichetti arguably the first composer to write for the medium in a way that acknowledges and capitalizes on its own particular qualities, but the pieces themselves display a virtually limitless range of moods and expressive attitudes..." (Fanfare)